CONFIDENCE: For Greater Trust in Yourself and More Joy on the Journey

What could you become if you moved through life with quiet CONFIDENCE?

This month, we have explored ways to cultivate joy, love, peace, and clarity. I wonder if it takes all of these to create CONFIDENCE…or whether confidence allows us to live with more joy, love, peace, and clarity.  What do you think?

Confidence is an unwavering, unshakable belief in yourself, your ideas, and your abilities. It allows you to move past self‑doubt, to stand steady in the face of fears and uncertainties…and still stay open to other perspectives and growth. Confidence is influenced by your experiences, your relationships, and your inner world. It can be strengthened by making choices and taking actions that stretch you beyond your comfort zone, despite feelings of worry, doubt, and fear. Confidence is not the absence of fear, it’s the willingness to move forward despite fear.

Confidence is most definitely a choice. So today I invite you to choose CONFIDENCE as your intention and to nurture it with the help of these five practices…so that you can move through your life with greater trust in yourself and more joy on the journey.

1. “I AM CONFIDENCE” YOGA PRACTICE
You are worthy.  You are enough.  You are unique.  And only you can offer what you have to offer, in your own special way. When you claim your worth, your voice, your body with confidence, the whole world benefits. This sequence is intended to leave you standing tall and proud, filled to the brim with confidence. 10 - 15 minutes.  For in‑depth explanations of each pose, click HERE.

1. Hero pose (Virasana)
   
2. Downward‑Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
   
3. Fierce pose (Utkatasana)
   
4. Mountain pose with visualization meditation (Tadasana)
   
5. Warrior II and Vulnerable warrior flow (Virabhadrasana II + Viparita Virabhadrasana)
   
6. Warrior III (Virabhadrasana III)
   
7. Child’s pose (Balasana)
   
8. Savasana

2. SAMA VRITTI PRANAYAMA - Box Breathing
Box breathing is a powerful practice to use when you want to reduce nerves and build a sense of control before stressful moments. It teaches you to notice the ratios of your breath and to regulate its flow. It’s excellent for calming and rebalancing your mind.
Box breathing is about having 4 equal parts in the breath: inhale, hold after inhale, exhale, and hold after exhale. Breathe through your nose, inhale for a count of 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, and hold for 4. You can visualize your breath moving around the four sides of a box to help you stay focused. Repeat this cycle for as long as you like.

3. MOUNTAIN POSE WITH “SUN RISES WITHIN” VISUALISATION
Building confidence is one of the many benefits of meditation — any form of meditation will help you to find strength and courage, to feel grounded in your personal power, and to let go of the inner negative self-talk that holds you back from living there life of your dreams.  

This visualization meditation will help you to stoke the inner fire of courage and confidence to follow your true path, to be your authentic self. Try it while standing in Mountain Pose (Tadasana).  Stand with your feet firmly rooted hip width apart and parallel, and your spine tall. Turn your palms forward to greet what is coming. Stand like you want to walk through life. Tall. Open. Strong. Confident. Scan your awareness through your body from crown to feet as you inhale, and from feet to crown as you exhale. Imagine the sun breaking over the horizon in front of you, the golden rays shining on your body and shining within at the same time. Slowly raise your arms out to the side and up to the sky, and visualize your whole being filling with the golden light of unshakable confidence. Then gently  lower your arms back down to your sides. 

4. PALO SANTO RITUAL - To Ignite Positive Energy
The sacred smoke of burning palo santo wood, known as “holy wood,” has been used for centuries by South American shamans in ceremonies to purify negative energies from spaces, groups of people, and individuals, and to raise positive vibrations.
At the start of your practice, light a stick of sustainably sourced palo santo to cleanse negative energy and invite positive energy into your space. Gently and safely waft the smoke of your smouldering wood through the room, especially into corners and tucked‑away areas, to clear any hidden heaviness.
Tune into your intention and visualize yourself infusing the space with pure, positive energy. Always open a window to allow the smoke—and any released energy—to move out and fresh air to come in.

5. MANTRA - SHANTI VIRA शान्ति वीर - I am steady.  I am strong. I am enough.
SHANTI means peace and VIRA means infinite power and strength. Together, SHANTI VIRA is a quiet affirmation of inner strength—offering the courage, clarity, and steadiness to be your true self in all situations, even the most difficult.  Use this for mantra meditation or simply repeat it to yourself with conviction throughout the day.

As I promised at the beginning of the month, you now have 25 different practices you can return to whenever you need a little help to rekindle and reconnect with the powerful, transformative intentions of JOY, LOVE, PEACE, CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE as you continue on your journey as you create your authentic, vibrant, and purposeful life.  You can find all the practices on the HUM LIFE blog, anytime you need them.